When Is It Time To See a Doctor About a Cough?

A cough usually isn’t too much of a cause for concern, especially if you’re getting over a cold. There are times, however, when it requires medical attention. If you have a cough, here’s when it’s time to schedule an appointment.

It’s no secret that a cough can be annoying, but this critical reflex has a purpose. It keeps your airway clear. That means it helps your body protect itself and heal by clearing your lungs and throat from irritants.

In most cases, that also means a cough typically goes away on its own, and you have nothing more to worry about. At times, however, a cough can be a sign of a problem.

Our team sees patients with acute and chronic coughs on a regular basis at Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Associates. And both of these types can require medical intervention.

Take a moment as our team explains the difference between acute and chronic coughs and when to see a doctor.

Acute and chronic coughs

As you might suspect, an acute cough lasts less time than a chronic cough. However, even if a cough lasts less time, that doesn’t mean you can ignore it.

When you have an acute cough, it typically clears up in less than three weeks. But it can also linger for up to eight weeks after an infection. However, infections aren’t their only cause.

Acute coughs can also develop in response to environmental irritants, allergens, and chronic conditions like asthma.

Unlike an acute cough, a chronic cough in a child lasts longer than four weeks and eight weeks in adults. The leading causes of these coughs include:

Smoking
Environmental triggers
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Obstructive sleep apnea
Chronic respiratory conditions, like asthma and chronic bronchitis
Certain medications
Aspiration
Lung cancer

Since both of these coughs can occur in response to underlying conditions, it’s important to recognize when your symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor.

Signs your cough needs professional attention

There are some general guidelines that can help determine when it’s time to schedule a doctor’s appointment.

First up, you shouldn’t ignore a cough that doesn’t go away after a few weeks. And that goes double if you also have symptoms like:

Greenish-yellow phlegm
Wheezing
Fever
Shortness of breath
Hoarseness
Fatigue
Fainting
Ankle swelling
Weight loss

However, if your cough also involves choking, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or chest pain, it's time to seek emergency care.

Similarly, don’t wait to see a doctor if you have bloody or pink-tinged phlegm.

Diagnosing and treating a cough

The key to treating a cough lies with identifying its cause. Our team accomplishes this by discussing potential triggers — like exposure to allergens or irritants — and performing bloodwork, lung function testing, or digital imaging with X-rays or CT scans.

Based on what we learn, we outline treatment to address the source of the problem. For instance, creating an allergy or asthma management strategy to get your symptoms under control.

The most important thing is to schedule an appointment if you have a cough that doesn’t seem to improve. Your body is trying to tell you something, and our team helps you figure out what it is.

Do you have a problem cough? Contact Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Associates by phone or book online to schedule a consultation with our experts in Tampa or Brandon, Florida, today.